What this recording offers in extraordinary performances, it offsets with an inordinate amount of audience noise. If you can overlook that, you're in for a spectacular experience. Franco Corelli is astounding as Roméo, bringing his powerful, stentorian tenor to a role typically assigned to lighter voices. The result is a more Italianate approach, but no less impressive given the role's considerable technical demands. Unfortunately, the draconian cuts in this performance diminish much of Juliette's music—a real loss, as Anna Moffo is sublime in the role, her voice both radiant and technically brilliant, making her an ideal match for Corelli. In the end, while the "audience participation" may be distracting, it also serves as a testament to the fervor these two artists inspired, evoking a rock concert more than a night at the opera.